The Lead

When it comes to elite football talent in Colorado, game respects game.

And for cornerback Pat Surtain II and wide receiver Courland Sutton, Colorado's Travis Hunter — who was recently named a Heisman trophy finalist — has earned that respect.

"To see Travis Hunter doing what he's doing at Colorado, the kid's special," Sutton said after Denver's "Monday Night Football" victory over the Cleveland Browns. "I mean, he is the epitome of an athlete."

Both Sutton and Surtain arrived for the Week 13 matchup wearing "Travis Hunter Heisman" t-shirts, and Surtain said that he believes the skill set of the cornerback and wide receiver makes the standout player the front-runner for the honor.

"I just think he's very unique, the type of player he is," Surtain said Wednesday. "I mean, his body of work speaks for itself. Him coming in and doing the things that he's done is something that we've never seen before, honestly. And I'm excited for his future."

And while Sutton said that he and his teammates have had several debates in the locker room about who is deserving of the award, for the veteran player, the answer is clear.

"He goes out there and plays 120 snaps a game, offensively and defensively," Sutton said. "And he thrives on both sides of the ball, and it's fun to watch him play. Whenever they play, it's like, 'All right what did Travis Hunter do today? How many touchdowns did he have, how many interceptions did he have?' … It's just fun to watch him play."

Hunter — who recorded 14 touchdowns and four interceptions this season — was recently named the first back-to-back winner of the Paul Hornung Award, which recognizes the most versatile player in college football. And while Surtain hesitated to provide any advice on which position Hunter should focus on as he looks to compete at the NFL level, both he and Sutton said they believe his elite talent will allow him to succeed in whatever he sets out to do.

"I believe he can do whatever he puts his mind to," Surtain said. "Obviously, he's shown it at the collegiate [level]. ... I think he can definitely play both ways if he puts his mind to it, for sure."

This year's Heisman Trophy winner will be announced on Saturday, Dec. 14, and Hunter will look to become just the second Colorado Buffalo to win college football's highest honor.